Keeping Score | Aaron Copland and the American Sound (FULL DOCUMENTARY AND CONCERT)

In the early 20th century, the sounds of America burst upon the world with jazz, blues, spirituals, folk, Latin and the sounds of Tin Pan Alley - each of them defining a different musical experience of being American. Aaron Copland listened and absorbed everything around him. Filmed on location in New York, Brooklyn, and Prague, this episode visits the places and explores the ideas that shaped Aaron Copland’s life and music.
Bonus Features:
Full-length concert performance of Copland's Appalachian Spring by the San Francisco Symphony originally filmed in high-definition 16:9 widescreen and 5.1 surround sound.
More information about DVD and Blu-Ray discs available here: www.warnerclas...
The music will play on. GIVE TODAY
SFSYMPHONY.org/give
Stay connected with us:
Facebook: / sfsymphony
Twitter: / sfsymphony
Instagram: / sfsymphony
Tumblr: / sfsymphony

[@dancertm]

When I was 17, Copland spent about 30 minutes with me after a concert he conducted in LA. When we met his first words were, "You're a composer, what instrument do you play?" He then asked what I was working on, and I told him and we talked about it. He was a generous kind man, and to this day, continues to encourage me as I have spent the last 51 years composing music of all kinds.

[@roberthunt1540]

What a great story!

[@wolfgangresch1650]

❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🏼

[@annakimborahpa]

As a Keller, do you compose in a basement wine cellar?

[@dancertm]

@@annakimborahpa Ha!

[@dorothealack5016]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@AndrewPace77]

His music really does make you feel like what it feels like to be an American. It's really beautiful stuff, and it breeds hope.

[@TheVleckChannel]

Copland's music feels as American as Elgar's music feels British.

[@klubberzvonhatzenbuhl563]

I played it for a Croatian friend - to give them a sense of exactly what you said. She didn’t understand it. I guess you have to be American to truly FEEL it.

[@AndrewPace77]

@@klubberzvonhatzenbuhl563 you could be right. I remember hearing Copeland's music when I was a child, when I was hopeful. Maybe it just reminds me of better times.

[@klubberzvonhatzenbuhl563]

@@AndrewPace77 - Same here. That’s why I listen to his work almost every day. Definitely changes your outlook.

[@rachmusic9873]

@@klubberzvonhatzenbuhl563gives you the motivation to push on for a better tomorrow!

[@annakimborahpa]

In the 20th century, Aaron Copland did for American music what Ralph Vaughan Williams just earlier had done for English music. They both: (A) embraced the tonality of native folk song traditions and (B) created impressionistic soundscapes that reflected the topography of their respective countries. It just happened to be in Copland's case that he had a large country, even two continents, and a myriad of ethnicities to draw inspiration from. What Mademoiselle Nadia Boulanger as a teacher did for Copland, Monsieur Maurice Ravel previously had done for Vaughan Williams, which, in effect, was to liberate them both from imitating the magnificent Germanic colossus that had so dominated the international musical world for several centuries. The Russians had undergone a similar process at the end of the 19th century. Thank God they all bypassed that abyss of atonal music that Western & Central Europe fell into for most of a century.

[@pibly7784]

Fanfare for the Common Man gives me the chills. Awesome piece.

[@Roddersville]

Aaron Copland is still underrated I believe…but he will grow in stature over generations.

[@user-wp4ju4hp5w]

MTT s tenure as conductor of the San Francisco Symphony was monumental. MTT was not only a great conductor but also a great educator of classical music. Thank you MTT

[@daviddemers9093]

I always visit Mr. Copland's sculpture garden at Tanglewood whenever I visit there. It is just so moving to be there and see the wonderful Copland sculpture and sit or stand in grateful silence to this giant of an American master. I think "maybe there is a God after all".

[@PopPop017]

I just stumbled upon this on utube after a disappointing search which resulted in only 2 concerts on Apple TV, This is really a treat as this composer was friends with Aaron, a beautiful insightful story. He’s one one my two favorites, Tchaikovsky/ Copland , makes sense, two guys who were nudged basically to write a certain style, and rebuked that notion, two masters who I believe would have been great friends and writers together, Arron is the all American composer and I don’t think you could beat that you know ,peace n love

[@alancduncan]

Without doubt, this is one of the finest pieces of musical storytelling ever recorded. Kudos to MTT and the SF Symphony! (And if you like this don’t miss the other KEEPING SCORE documentaries. All of them are brilliant! (This one is on my Too 10

[@gregbianchi561]

Thank you so much. A balm to the spirit in a very difficult time. Wonderful performance!

[@ethanwarren9006]

Hopefully, the youtube algorithm will push this more one day and this will get the views it deserves.

[@bambam1169]

uh yeah, unfortunately no

[@annakimborahpa]

If only Copland had utilized more algorhythms ....

[@dickjoe]

Thanks, MTT and SFS for helping in a time of great distress

[@suziedods8198]

What I wouldn’t give right now to go to a symphony or travel. Thank you for this.

[@wolfgangresch1650]

I remember when Mahler told this country that we've got GREAT talent and our own voice ❤️❤️❤️thank you Maestro 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼SFO is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

[@laboucheduserpent-]

Copland is so wonderful.

[@jslasher1]

I met Copland in 1974 at the Harvard Club in Manhattan, following my return from London, where I visited Bernard Herrmann, whose soundtrack for "Sisters" I had produced. I found Copland, whom I worshiped, a kind and self-effacing man. Along with Shostakovich, he is my all-time favourite composer. Who, myself included, hasn't been influenced by his 'Americana' at some point or another.

[@nigelchirstopher8871]

yeah right

[@annakimborahpa]

An ensemble I played in referred to Copland's Outdoor Overture as his Outhouse Overture, but it was all in good fun.

[@lilyarikshpun4723]

Thank you for keeping our spirits up during this extreme time!

[@zazuzazz5419]

Breathtaking!! Thank you for for this gift tribute to our American master composer Aaron Copland. ❤ He’s all ours; he’s all the world’s.

[@billcarey7874]

Beautiful. Beyond words.

[@medievalmusiclover]

I am proud Jew who love Copland who is Jew as well. Greetings from Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

[@ogredad55]

I feel really blessed that this video started playing spontaneously. Copland's music is really mindblowing! Thanks to all the musicians who perform these great works! God bless you!

[@longhaulblue]

Great series and a great episode on an iconic American composer. Sadly lacking since Bernstein's educational concerts. More, please Maestro Thomas.

[@jandrewscali]

Coming to this late . . . but never have I heard a performance of Appalachian Spring in its entirety so movingly performed. Thank you Maestro MTT and the SFSO, one of the finest orchestras in the U.S. New appreciation for Copland!

[@matthewmcdermit8744]

These programs are so good, and the musicians are marvelous. They have increased my appreciation for orchestras.

[@charleslyall5857]

Excellent. Such expansive music!

[@thomaslziegler]

Thank you, SFO. The performance of Appalachian Spring was the best I have ever heard. The sound and editing were top notch.

[@josephcarlbreil5380]

I recall a comment by Jerome Kern about Irving Berlin: " Irving Berlin has no place in American music because he is American music". Of course, this was well before Aaron Copland arrived at the scene, creating an American sound, later referred to as "Americana". Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man" is the ultimate fanfare. It is often heard, but never forgotten, no matter where, no matter when. I recall attending a meeting of the Hollywood Composers and Lyricists Guild many decades ago. The USIA film, "A Copland Portrait", was screened. I was at a table, which included the daughter of Ernst Toch, David Shire, Daniele Amfitheatrof, Herschel Burke Gilbert. After the film ended, Frank De Vol, also at our table, remarked, "What, pray tell, would we have accomplished in this town without Aaron's influence?"

[@steveb9325]

Absolutely love Aaron Copeland. Thank you for posting this!

[@EHagen10]

Great video!!! COPLAND!!! Such BEAUTIFUL and THRILLING sounds that this wonderful composer gave to America!! His pieces are precious national treasures filled with HOPE, JOY, PEACE and SERENITY!!! True, delicious food for the soul!!!

[@san_music4110]

Loved learning more about this incredible maestro _ thanks for posting!!!

[@williamzavlaris4054]

Bravo! Now this is how to get through these difficult times. Thank you MTT, San Francisco Symphony and the ever hopeful music of the incomparable Aaron Copland.

[@alisonfleming9097]

This documentary has really given me a boost. It is beautifully filmed and orchestrated (:) and narrated. And -being something of the common woman, musically, I learned so much and enjoyed even more. Thank you.

[@kenlodge3399]

Thank you. Thank you so much. Have loved this music forever. Copeland's music was my first invitation to music I've spent my life enjoying. Is the only music I never questioned, Appalachian Spring is the sound of acceptance. Appalachian Spring is his very best, Fanfare a distant second and all the rest third. And I don't know anything about Shakir's, but agree about simplicity as that portion always reminded me of the Teton's and swimming in Jenny Lake.

[@charleslyall5857]

Great documentary. Mr Tilson Thomas is the perfect advocate for the great composer.

[@lance31415]

SFS, thank you for making this chestnut available.

[@divey6303]

Loved learning about the background to the music and hearing the exemplary music-making by MTT and SFO -- a wonderful, uplifting experience. Thank you.

[@contranimal]

Being someone who marched in the drum and bugle corps activity I love the recognition of the activity, I believe that segment shown was from the Seattle Cascades 2003 show. Classical music has been used by so many groups on the field with so many variations and interpretations of it shows how creative people can be and how great a lot of these works are. My personal favorite was the year I got to play music of Respighi on the field.

[@jakenowell5211]

I was so excited to see the recognition outside of Drumcorps

[@annakimborahpa]

Did you parade through either the pines or fountains of Rome?

[@EricPease]

thanks for sharing SFS!

[@antjamnow1286]

Dr. Peterson at University of Louisiana at Monroe let me know that the piano I was composing at was the very same Copland once played. Copland took a bus and walked on foot to ULM campus to hear a performance of one of his works back then. Knowing this piano was once played on by him simply to pass the time in his visit, I've since been inspired by Copland in a fond way - linked to this memory of possibly picking up on the energy trails of his spirit as a composer.

[@claudiaurueta1027]

This will help me write my paper, and understand why and how he wrote this scores.

[@jkuever]

Thank you, thank you for making this available! I have wanted to re-watch it since it aired so long ago. Especially starting at 52:22 ... absolutely brilliant!

[@jazzporridge1506]

Ambassador Copland, a grateful planet thanks you. This was stunning visually, musically, and culturally. Well played America. MTT is such a generous narrator of these documentaries. Bravo. (Can't believe I once played Billy the Kid in an amateur orchestra in Glasgow. How did we pull that off?)

[@annakimborahpa]

Well, Billy the Kid AKA William Bonney AKA Henry McCarty was a Celt, albeit Irish.

[@nicolasferri304]

gracias por este documental, aprender sobre lo que escuchas es ampliar cerebro y espíritu

[@dawid3406]

Fantastic documentary. Thank you sf symphony

[@mgman6000]

I wonder just how much influence Copeland had on Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith and the other movie composers I can hear him in so many great western soundtracks

[@thorenjohn]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful work!

[@roberthunt1540]

At 53:55 the last three notes . . . in the orchestral score it is played by a chime. I have always pictured the end as being the closing of a day, and the three notes as stars appearing. Since Copland was Jewish, I fancied that they were the first three visible stars of the ending of Shabatt.

[@jslasher1]

Quite accidental. Copland was not religious; he identified as agnostic.

[@kidmarine7329]

It means whatever you want it to mean.

[@Yet333]

Saying Copelands music is “ American “, is an insult. It transcends country or culture. It is a celebration of the virtuous, hopeful, .. it is the grandeur of the human soul at its most majestic. ✨

[@DamagedF0X]

A documentary. On american classical music...... And then finish with the musical pieces the documentary was about? An easy 5/5.

[@graceroy22]

1:26:57 chills.

[@drsbsn01]

I haven't had chance to finish the documentary yet, but I am just wondering if anyone had heard of Florence Price? She was composing around the same era, and you can definitely hear in her 3rd symphony echos of what Copland would go on to perfect

[@annakimborahpa]

No, but considering your florid comment, it seems that with regard to Florence, The Price Was Right, even if not perhaps Leontyne.

[@lazyriver6168]

Informative doc and wonderful performance! Surprised to learn that it is scored for only 13 players. The sound seems so much larger in some sections.

[@composerdoh]

You know youtube- you're shooting yourself in the foot showing ads every 90-120 seconds. I just get sick of it and stop watching or download it to avoid the Io-esque gadfly ads you're constantly bombarding me with. Sheesh, even network TV isn't this bad. Just sayin'- sorry San Fransisco Symphony- I'd love to support you and I hope you get some ad revenue, but just put ads every 6-10 minutes like regular old TV. I hope you tell them to stop.

[@averayugen7802]

In high school we had a music teacher who loved Copeland and many other people's composers. 2 years later he was canned by the Board of Ed for being too leftist. CRIMINAL!!! Remembering and honoring you Mr. Leroy Dickerson in 1962-3 in Middletown (NY) Public Schools!! Never to be forgotten.

[@user-wp4ju4hp5w]

At 1:33 we see former Principal Timpanist David Herbert now with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

[@elizabethdennis9064]

I am watching your documentary as part of research of a paper on Aaron Copland. It would be helpful it you could put the names of people who are contributing opinions on the screen so I can quote them properly. Thank you.

[@wolfgangresch1650]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@archangecamilien1879]

7:43 I have to say, I always wonder, when I hear such things, why this or that country needs to have "a sound"...why every composer can't just do his own thing, haha...

[@annakimborahpa]

We all aren't fortunate enough to be a chameleon archangel.

[@FreakieFan]

This “sound” was retroactively brandished upon Copland music. He didn’t set out to create an American sound. He just happens to be an American and be a successful composer, so the country feels the need to take “possession” of his creations.

[@archangecamilien1879]

Lol...I suppose so...

[@whatabouttheearth]

And thinking that they were intentionally trying to make an American sound, it makes me wonder how much of this influenced composers that influenced the way motion picture scores are made like John Williams. Hollywood and the American movie industry is undoubtedly massively influential and very Americana, but listening to Copelands music I hear what elements that must if been used for motion picture scores since at least the early 70s, many if which John Williams, who if you don't know did too many movie score to communicate, Jaws, Star Wars, ET, Indiana Jones, Jurrassic Park. I have yet to analyze specifically to find if it is Williams who makes the parts Im thinking of or maybe other composers.

[@SaintBeatrix]

does anyone know the name of the song that starts at 21:57 in this video? dying to listen to more

[@neilcoy2974]

It’s called The Golden Willow Tree. Listen to the Suite of Old American Songs for Copland’s setting of it

[@sarahshaw7315]

Why was this linked by my music teacher?

[@annakimborahpa]

For you to ponder the missing link in evolutionary theory?

[@sarahshaw7315]

@@annakimborahpa but it was a music teacher

[@annakimborahpa]

@@sarahshaw7315 Well, it did show the evolution of Copland's music.

[@sfbirdclub]

Why is the gain so low. I am giving up, but would love to watch--the others have been great. (nothing wrong with my hearing either.)

[@charliegomez1165]

Hi Ang!

[@disneygirl928]

Charlie Gomez Hi nerd! Enjoy :)

[@alexanderisaac6520]

Imagine if Aaron Copland wrote the music to superman....

[@annakimborahpa]

....yeah, the love theme for Lois Lane would have been out of The Daily Planet.

[@5botball]

Anyone know the name of the folk tune at 22:00?

[@neilcoy2974]

“The Golden Willow Tree”. It’s relevant to this doco, because it’s one of the songs Copland used in his Suite of OldAmerican Songs

[@pleaseimmediatelynotify]

MTT plz be healthy

[@markyochoa]

Hello? Was John Philip Sousa not alive during this??

[@duvidl]

No. Sousa died in 1932.

[@chinomar1]

lol anyone here from class this my dads account

[@user-bn8ui9wm3u]

yep

[@pega17pl]

To me, the "American sound" trials are only slangs of German-Austrian music. Bernstein himself tried a life-long to compose the Amercian opera but finaly he resignated: there must be an "American" Mozart fo fullfil this task. - Heinz

[@annakimborahpa]

If Heinz said that there must be an "Amerian Mozart" to fulfill the task of writing a native opera, must it contain 57 Varieties?

[@pega17pl]

@@annakimborahpa - I quoted Bernstein. I don't how an American Opera should be. Neither the structure, nor the music.

[@annakimborahpa]

@@pega17pl If interested, one of the earliest American operas is Treemonisha by Scott Joplin, the undisputed "King of Ragtime."

[@nbkawtgnobody]

"A kiss to build a dream on" as to say.

[@mitchellperilla739]

Hi Friends - What is the piece that begins at 6:46?

[@archangecamilien1879]

35:20 the only question is "recongizable to whom?", haha...I would expect the average person doesn't recognize it...of course, if he means that it is easy to recognize, I suspect it is true...

[@archangecamilien1879]

I know someone who doesn't usually like instrumental music terribly much...unless it is in a film or something, that is...the person doesn't forcibly hate instrumental/classical music, but rarely asks to "put such a piece of music on her playlist"...that person immediately (on first hearing) connected with Fanfare for the Common Man...it's still a bit of a mystery to me, haha...it's the only instrumental piece that has had that effect on her up to now...

[@archangecamilien1879]

All the same, haha, I suspect the common man would probably not recognize Fanfare for the common, haha, would not recognize their own fanfare...to be serious, at any rate, I always feel like John Williams captures that Copland-esque sound whenever he is scoring a patriotism-themed film...like 2012's Lincoln, or 2004's The Patriot...

[@antjamnow1286]

Do you drip lavender or peppermint on your cuffs to whiff before conducting? Curious.

[@1cultural]

I was surprised that rodeo was omitted. Why?

[@annakimborahpa]

Perhaps Garth Brooks objected.

[@jimy199]

does anyone know the piece around 6:45 ?

[@georgekelk9575]

Dvorak Symphony number 8 movement 1

[@josephcarlbreil5380]

Oops! My mistake. Dvorak's Sym Nbr 9 is the 'New World Symphony'.

[@vhufeosqap]

@@josephcarlbreil5380don’t think so

[@womensphil]

OH BOY it's the fabulous all-male composer line-up. Hope the new era of SFS will include rather than exclude women.

[@tonirose6776]

We saw several women: instrumentalists - just the piano player in the street, for example - orchestral musicians; Martha Graham; and Nadia Boulanger, who TAUGHT many great composers and musicians. Not for the first time, it made me wonder why a) they are not more celebrated and widely known, and b) what prevented them from pushing through to 'greater' heights. Yes, the Patriarchy. But, somehow for me that's not a complete answer. And many thanks, MTT and SFS, for sending this out to us! I'm in B.C.

[@annakimborahpa]

@@tonirose6776 You really have been standing out for a long time. Most of us are in C.E. or A.D.

[@Pablo.N.M]

subtitles in spanish?

[@OboeFiles]

Anyone wanna talk about the gloss over the blackface….?

[@nigelchirstopher8871]

say hoi XxDaylight_ReaperxX if ur from trinity bet u wont

[@muslit]

I don't know what it is about MTT, but he makes me throw up.

[@SRBlair]

Get a life!

[@muslit]

@@SRBlair I have one. What about you?

[@v5j95jv9j5w]

Oy vey

[@tomgrimes8379]

I met Copland in Paris in the summer of 1971 when I was a student at the U of Paris. He was doing a concert at the Place de L'Opera. I don't remember what was on the program other than Appalachian Spring. He shook hands after the performance. That summer was unusual: Jim Morrison of The Doors was performing there that summer (I didn't go). Vladimir Ashkenazy was performing at L'Opera (I went). And Jean-Paul Sartre and his consort, Simone de Beauvoir, were demonstrating against the Vietnam war outside my pension on the Left Bank. (My recollection is that neither sang nor danced, just protested.)